Dental Therapist

Typical Salary

£24,907 To £37,890

Typical Hours

39 to 41 a week

between 8am and 6pm

How To Become a Dental Therapist

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship

College / University

You'll need a degree or diploma in dental therapy approved by the General Dental Council.

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science

2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree

Apprenticeship

You could work towards this role by starting with an advanced apprenticeship as a dental nurse.

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

customer service skills
knowledge of medicine and dentistry
sensitivity and understanding
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
the ability to work well with others
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
to enjoy working with other people
thinking and reasoning skills
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

In your day-to-day duties you might:

remove plaque and other tooth coatings
apply antibacterial and de-sensitising agents
polish and whiten teeth
apply sealants and fluorides to teeth to help prevent decay
take x-rays
replace temporary fillings and crowns
carry out simple fillings
extract deciduous (milk) teeth
give certain types of local anaesthetic

Working Environment

You could work at a dental practice or in an NHS or private hospital.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career Path & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Registration

you'll need to register with the General Dental Council

Career tips

As well as a Student Loan, you may be able to get support through the NHS Learning Support Fund, that can help with costs for travel, childcare and hardship.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the British Association of Dental Hygiene and Therapy to get access to professional development training.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a dental therapist from Health Careers.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.